Marketa's Bed and Breakfast

Marketa's Bed and Breakfast, in downtown Victoria, BC, offers a unique taste of traditional hospitality mixed with European flair. As soon as you walk into this heritage home built in 1912, the panelled walls echo a different era. An era of Edwardian comfort and hospitality. A place to rest and recuperate after a day investigating the many treasures of downtown Victoria, BC the garden city.

Marketa's B&B offers everything from the romance of hand-crafted four-poster beds and Air-jetted tubs for two. We offer beautifully decorated standard and family rooms all at remarkably affordable rates.

Choose from private or shared baths and queen-sized or even four-poster beds. With several rooms, all uniquely decorated, Marketa's accommodation offers all the personal service and ambiance of a bed and breakfast with the convenience and charm of an inn.

The attractions of Victoria, BC, are just a stroll away. The sound of seagulls leads you to Victoria's breathtaking inner harbour. Stop awhile and watch the float planes landing and taking off alongside million dollar yachts, and charming sail boats. Victoria's captivating tiny harbour ferries zip around the inner harbour picking up and dropping off passengers at the many attractions that dot the harbour.

Walk a little further and the famous Empress Hotel comes into view (perhaps you will try one of their superb English high teas). To your right you can see the Legislature building, which at night is a marvellous spectacle of lights. Next you will see one of north America's finest museums, the Royal BC Museum. Want to journey a little farther? Walk for a few more minutes and you have the choice of either world-class shopping along Government Street or, in the opposite direction, the peace and tranquillity of Beacon Hill Park with is fabulous flower display. One interesting fact about Victoria is that there are flowers and cherry blossoms blooming as early as February!

Feeling tired? Marketa's Bed and Breakfast is still less than ten minutes or so away, where all the comforts of home await you. Your friendly and helpful host, Marketa and her lovable small dog (with a big name) MR. T, will welcome you and ensure you have a wonderful stay. Marketa is also an artist and her stunning art-work greets you at every turn as you wander through the house.

Later, retire to beautifully furnished, clean and comfortable rooms, each displaying Marketa's unique design flair. Sleep soundly, for tomorrow offers another busy day of sightseeing. Perhaps you will take one of our specially discounted guest packages offered by local tour groups, and visit Butchart Gardens, kayak through the inner harbour and into the Gorge waterway. Or be really adventurous and take a Zodiac ride, go whale-watching and get to meet our resident killer whales, right up close.

Whatever you decide, a day of excitement awaits you and you will need a good breakfast. Mingle with the other guests in the sunny breakfast room, or on the deck, take a look at the gourmet breakfasts and prepare yourself for a feast. Relax, chat with new friends, ask Marketa about the best places to shop in Victoria Canada, or simply plan your day.

It's no wonder that people come back year after year to stay at Marketa's Bed and Breakfast lodging. This unique heritage bed and breakfast is just another of Victoria's best kept secrets.

Marketa opened her B&B Victoria BC in 1996. With the help of her young son Jacob and Mr. T the lovable family dog (a real character!) she runs a warm and friendly hostelry accommodation with European flair, close to downtown Victoria. Her love of cooking is obvious to anyone who has sampled her gourmet breakfasts, which are a favourite of guests.

History

This beautiful Edwardian mansion was built in 1912. The first owner of the house was a widow with four children who bought it because she wanted something smaller. She was obviously wealthy because, even by today's standards, the house is large.

Whether you are visiting Victoria on a family break, a romantic getaway, or business, our uniquely decorated rooms will enchant you. Our lodging rooms to fit most budgets and can accommodate various size groups of all age's even our younger guests are catered to with baby cribs and rollaway beds.

Our Weather

Victoria, Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in Canada. The area owes its moderate temperatures to the prevailing westerly winds blowing off the Pacific Ocean. The pacific maintains a year-round, constant 10°C (50°F) temperature and so Victoria is warmer than the land in winter and cooler in summer, keeping the temperatures in a comfortable range.

Whale Watching!

Spring Tide Charters and Orca Spirit Adventures Ltd. offer year round whale watching and marine wildlife tours aboard either large enclosed boats, or Zodiacs out of DOWNTOWN Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Canada; one of the best locations in the world for viewing whales and marine life in the wild.

"Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. Your hospitality was outstanding and your breakfasts are to write poetry about!! London Ritz - eat your heart out !!" Carol & Douglas. London, UK

"Jack and I want you to know how very much we enjoyed our stay at your delightful B&B. We had such a good time. Your hospitality and all you did for us was "special". The breakfast were delicious and the muffins just yummy. Thank you!" Helen Peterson

Breakfast

Marketa’s Bed and Breakfast believes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and we just don't think that a continental breakfast cuts it!

In fact, we start where other places leave off! Mornings at Marketa's start with home-baked scones or muffins and enough coffee to get you going, and then some! Many of our guests enjoy having this pre-cursor to their gourmet breakfast in the lounge, mingling with other guests, while waiting for their breakfast to be cooked especially for them.

We serve breakfast in the main floor dining room from 8.30AM to 9.30AM in the high season, and from 8.30AM to 9.30 AM in the off season. Your gourmet breakfast choice is garnished with fruit and fresh herbs from our garden!

Here are some examples of Marketa's delectable breakfast menu favourites.

Eggs Benedict - This standard comes alive with Marketa's special homemade cheese sauce. Poached eggs over ham on an English crumpet with cheese sauce and garnished with herbs and spices. Fresh fruit on the side.

Eggs Florentine - This simple treat, cooked to perfection.
Poached eggs over spinach on an English crumpet with homemade cheese sauce, garnished with herbs and spices. Fresh fruit on the side.

English Breakfast - A good hearty start to the day one of our guest's favourites. Eggs, any style, with bacon or ham, and toast. Fresh fruit on the side.

Pancakes -Go on, spoil yourself you deserve it! Pancakes with seasonal fresh fruit, whipped cream and real Canadian Maple syrup.

Montreal Style Bagel -A west-coast favourite's guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, garnished with spices and capers. Fresh fruit on the side.

French Toast -If you haven't tried French toast with fennel, you haven't lived - ooo la la! Hearty slices lightly fried, dipped in batter and topped with fennel and brown sugar. Fresh fruit on the side.

Your Hosts

Marketa opened her bed and breakfast in 1996. With the help of her young son Jacob and Mr. T the lovable family dog (a real character!) she runs a warm and friendly hostelry with European flair. Her love of cooking is obvious to anyone who has sampled her gourmet breakfasts, which are a favourite of guests.

Marketa was born in Prague and studied painting at University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her works are displayed throughout the house and you can often find her in her studio working on a new piece. For more information about Marketa"s artwork please click here – and yes, her artwork is for sale.

From the Victoria Inner Harbour:
Exit the Coho/Clipper ferries parking lot or the terminal building and turn right on to Belleville street.Turn left on to Oswego, travel 2 blocks and turn right on Superior, we are in the middle of the block on the left hand side.

From Swartz Bay:
Exit the BC Ferries parking lot onto Hwy 17. Travel appr. 30 mins. to the outskirts of Victoria, Hwy 17 will merge onto Blanchard Street. Take Blanchard all the way downtown, this will then merge into Belleville street. Turn left on to Oswego, travel 2 blocks and turn right on Superior, we are in the middle of the block on the left hand side.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

• Biking the Galloping Goose Trail
• Dallas Road waterfront park (great for walking, jogging, rollerblading)
• Sea-kayaking & scuba diving (the protected waters around Victoria have been called the best scuba diving in the world, home to a myriad of natural fish nurseries - including the best Orca pods on the south west coast)
• Charter a boat - a must during whale watching season
• Farmer's Market (every Sunday, June thru September)
• Whale Watching Adventures
• Sea Fun ... Great Pacific Adventures ... Orca Spirit ... Marine Adventure Center

ATTRACTIONS

Victoria offers many things to do from family oriented to international shopping and many cultural attractions.

• Royal British Columbia Museum
• Beacon Hill Park (great children's Zoo)
• Parliament Buildings
• Maritime Museum
• Art Gallery of Victoria
• Antique Row